Rather than putting a strip in the middle of the desert, why not take casinos straight to a source of power and water at the Hoover Dam? Architecture graduate <a href="http://stephansobl.com/#1705600/DIPLOMA-VERTICAL-STRIP" target="_blank">Stephan Sobl</a> designed the Vertical Strip for his graduate studies at <a href="http://www.dieangewandte.at/" target="_blank">University of Applied Arts</a> in Vienna while exploring lightweight structures. The upside-down skyscraper is composed of lightweight <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/carbon-fiber">carbon-fiber</a> suspended from a concrete cantilever and wrapped with a shade-providing spiraling metal shell. Latching on to the side of the canyon, the tower is suspended above the Colorado River with views both up and down the canyon and of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/swooping-hoover-dam-re-design-creates-a-dynamic-space-for-visitors-to-experience-incredible-water-flows/">Hoover Dam</a>.

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Vertical Strip-Stephan Sobl

The conceptual tower would provide a casino, a hotel, a boxing ring and a concert hall with all the same amenities and luxuries as a casino on the Las Vegas strip

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Vertical Strip-Stephan Sobl

Located between the dam and the bypass bridge, the upside down skyscraper is accessible to both cars and pedestrians from the adjoining road.

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Vertical Strip-Stephan Sobl

As told by Sobl, his graduate project was an exploration of "the interplay of opaque massive surfaces capable of incorporating poché and lightweight, fragile structure."

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Vertical Strip-Stephan Sobl

Guests of the hotel and casino arrive via the cantilevered plynth, which holds the main programmatic areas like the lobby, casino, event space and boxing ring.

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Vertical Strip-Stephan Sobl

Entrance area and lobby accessed from the road via the plynth which acts as a bridge to the tower.

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Vertical Strip-Stephan Sobl

The descending tower holds hotel rooms culminating in a dramatic area at the bottom of the tower for ceremonies and special occasions that also includes a high end dining area with glass floors to see the Colorado River below.

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Vertical Strip-Stephan Sobl

Model of the upside down skyscraper for Sobl's graduate thesis.

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Vertical Strip-Stephan Sobl

The tower is composed of three elements: a massive concrete structure building the cantelivar for the hanging tower; a lightweight hanging tower, and a metal shell embracing the structure.

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Vertical Strip-Stephan Sobl

his metal shell provides shading for the rooms inside and encourages natural ventilation throughout the tower.

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Vertical Strip-Stephan Sobl

Parasitic in nature, the Vertical Strip latches on to the canyon right at the source of the power and water, closer than Las Vegas and thus reducing losses through distribution.

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Vertical Strip-Stephan Sobl

The structural supports spiral down to the bottom and are based on gravity.

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Vertical Strip-Stephan Sobl

Various levels are organized according to programs.

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Vertical Strip-Stephan Sobl

Cross sections from the side and from the top.

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Vertical Strip-Stephan Sobl

Rather than putting a strip in the middle of the desert, why not take casinos straight to a source of power and water at the Hoover Dam? Architecture graduate Stephan Sobl designed the Vertical Strip for his graduate studies at University of Applied Arts in Vienna while exploring lightweight structures. The upside-down skyscraper is composed of lightweight carbon-fiber suspended from a concrete cantilever and wrapped with a shade-providing spiraling metal shell. Latching on to the side of the canyon, the tower is suspended above the Colorado River with views both up and down the canyon and of the Hoover Dam.